SailorStar9: With Chapter 206 uploaded, I present Chapter 207 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.
Pairings: Ace/Sasha, sibling Luffy/Sasha and Sabo/Sasha, Background Protector!Law/Sasha
Disclaimers: One Piece belongs to Oda EiichirÅ-sensei. Me, on the other hand, own absolutely nothing, except my OC, the pairing and the fic idea.
Chapter 207: Arc 14: The Fighting Fish Strike! Across the Deadly Iron Bridge!
"Green Bit?" the chef of the cafe the Caesar Handover Team were at mused after he was informed of the group's destination. "I don't recommend you go there. Are you people explorers or researchers?"
"Yes, something like that." Usopp replied.
"You better not go unless you have a purpose that's worth risking your life." the chef cautioned.
"That bridge looks very strong, though." Robin pointed out.
"Yes, it's made of iron." the chef admitted. "But look at the entrance. Nobody's crossing it nowadays as you see. A school of Fighting Fish inhabit the area around Green Bit. Before they came, people used to come and go freely, but that was 200 years ago."
"Sir, what's a Fighting Fish?" Caesar asked.
"It's a savage fish with horns." the the chef gestured. "If you approach them with a ship, they'll capsize you. That's why they reinforced the bridge with iron, but it's no use."
"No use?" Usopp echoed. "What do you mean? Can they even tear down an iron bridge?"
"Well, I don't know the current situation of the bridge." the chef shrugged. "Only people who crossed it know, but I don't know anyone who came back."
"What?" Usopp exclaimed in shock as the chef went back to the cafe. "Hey, Torao! You have to change the handing-over spot now!"
"He's right." Caesar agreed. "Think what it's like to be handed over at such a place, fool."
"I'm not gonna change." Law stood his ground.
"It'll be too late, anyways." Sasha agreed.
"Thalassa-ya is right." Law put down his tea cup. "We're already here. Stop making a fuss. More importantly, I'm worried about the situation of this country." he pointed his thumb over to the nonchalant citizens. "Their king quit all of a sudden. How come they are so calm? We're in unexpected circumstances already."
"That's what worries me!" Usopp protested.
"Robin, what's wrong?" Sasha asked, seeing the archaeologist turn her head away as CP-0 agents scrolled past. "Those guys..." she breathed, following Robin's not-so-obvious glance. "Why are they here?"
"What's going on?" Usopp was puzzled.
"CP-0." Law supplied.
"The strongest intelligence organization in the world." Robin explained. "Cipher Pol Aigis Zero. When they're on the move, nothing good happens."
"Looks like my hypothesis is right." Sasha stated. "To be able to mobilize CP-0, he has to be one of them."
"Indeed." Law concurred.
"We have..." Sasha gave her pocket watch a glance, the group were now standing at the mouth of the bridge. "45 minutes left."
"Let's get going." Law led the group across the bridge.
"It's a very solid-looking bridge." Usopp gawked.
"We'll be okay if that Fighting Fish thing attacks us on this, won't we?" Caesar asked.
"I hope so." Usopp muttered.
"It's coming." Law stopped in his tracks.
"Don't tell me you're talking about..." Usopp stammered. "What is that noise?" he suddenly heard something in the water.
"Look!" Caesar pointed. "It's here!" he exclaimed as a fish fin appeared on the water's surface.
"That is one big fish." Sasha looked up at the giant fish that had risen from the water.
"I thought a Fighting Fish would be a fish." Robin mused as the fish jumped over them and back into the water.
"It is a fish." Law confirmed.
"It's coming again!" Usopp panicked.
"There is more than one." Robin pointed out as four more fish fin emerged from the water.
"There are a bunch of them." Usopp wailed.
"The guy said they reinforced the bridge with iron to protect it from them." Robin noted.
"It's going to be alright, isn't it?" Usopp wondered. "The bridge is a piece of crap!" he screamed, the Fighting Fish had literally slammed into the iron railing.
"Can we make it to Green Bit like this?" Robin had to ask.
"We're gonna be okay." Law assured. "They can take care of them." he pointed to Usopp and Caesar. "I can't fight now. Here it comes." he warned as the second wave of fish came charging at them.
"Another one from the opposite side." Robin cautioned as a second Fighting Fish jumped up from the water.
Sasha simply focused her Divine Haki, knocking the two fish out with a concentrated Haki blast.
"It's a school!" Usopp warned as the rest of the fish closed in on the running group. "Let's just run! It'll take forever for Sasha just to knock them out."
"Nose-ya, uncuff Caesar." Law instructed. "I want him to fight, too."
"What are you saying?" Usopp pressed. "He's gonna fly away then."
"He wouldn't dare make a move like that." Law replied, bringing out a heart.
"Don't tell me it's..." Caesar gaped. "My heart! You don't die a peaceful death after pushing around a great scientist like me." he swore, now released him his handcuffs. "Gastille!" he fired off an energy beam from his mouth at the attacking Fighting Fish.
"Run!" Law barked.
"Like I said, why aren't you fighting?" Usopp pressed.
"It takes too much energy to use my ability." Law explained. "And I have to be my best on our way back. Do you understand? I want to keep my strength up as much as possible. Because our enemy is Doflamingo."
"What should we do?" Usopp skidded to a stop when the group from the bridge had been broken in the middle. "The bridge has collapsed. On top of that, I can't see the other side clearly because of the fog."
"A fighting Fish is coming towards us." Law warned.
"Roo..." Law was ready to activate his power when three spears were tossed into the Fighting Fish and a net cast over it.
"A net?" Sasha blinked at the defeated fish.
"We caught it." a girlish voice cooed. "Let's pull it in."
"Whose voice is that?" Robin wondered.
"Residents of the island?" Law guessed.
"I thought it was a deserted island." Usopp pointed out. "Who is over there on the other side?" he yelled. "We want to cross the bridge.
"Oh no, a human!" a voice squeaked. "Hurry up! Run!" pulling their kill up onto the bridge, the voiced fled.
"What was that all about?" Robin wondered.
"Anyway, let's keep moving." Law insisted. "Caesar. Fly us to the island."
"Law, you bastard!" Caesar cursed, carrying the group over the bridge. "I'll get even with you, I mean it."
"The drag marks from the fish end there." Law noted, the group were now on the shore of Green Bit.
"Nobody is here yet." Robin looked around.
"What was that about?" Law wondered.
"Shipwrecks from Fighting Fish attacks are filling up the water around here." Robin stated.
"What's that?" Usopp gaped at the shadow of a giant rose through the mist. "What is this place?" he gawked at the dense forest that appeared in front of them. "A very wild forest?"
SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.
